Tuesday, December 28, 2010

We don't like the idea of lying to our children. This applies to all aspects of our parenting, but it especially came up recently with the talk of Santa flying through the sky on reindeer. We don't necessarily have a problem with the idea of Santa, but we've felt no need to mention him. He's not real, nor is he the reason we celebrate. I didn't think this would cause any problems. How could it? It's not like I told my son about Santa and then proceeded to tell him that Santa wasn't real. Now that, I could see that bring problematic. I could just see my all-knowing three-year old prancing around telling other kids they were wrong about Santa. That would cause an argument or two in the playgroups.... But, like I said, I didn't do that. I figured we'd just pass by the Holiday season without much mention of the big guy in the red suit.

What I didn't count on was other people talking to my son about Santa. Boy was I shocked the first time someone asked my son, "So, are you excited about Santa coming?"! My poor son turned to me with a look of utter confusion and just hid under my legs. I'm sure he must have thought that person mistook him for someone else--someone else who might have had family visiting....maybe a member of the family named "Santa." Hmmmm..... maybe something like that.

Then it happened again and again. Once, while at the checkout at CVS, a woman asked him, "Are you ready for Santa?" And my son smiled wide with a mischievous grin, "not quite......!" At that point, I think it had become a game to him. I finally asked him last night, "who's Santa?" To this, he had only one reply: "I don't know."

I'm not sure how widespread it is, but at least here in our little town, Santa sure seems to be a big part of the culture. I hadn't realized that before, but I certainly know it now. I had a short talk with my son about things people think of when they talk about Santa. To be honest, I'm not sure that he really cared. Seems like maybe he just loved all the attention and questions, regardless of whatever the people might have been talking about. I guess I shouldn't be surprised. He is a three year old after all. What's more important--understanding life, or making sure it revolves around you?

We don't like the idea of lying to our children. This applies to all aspects of our parenting, but it especially came up recently with the talk of Santa flying through the sky on reindeer. We don't necessarily have a problem with the idea of Santa, but we've felt no need to mention him. He's not real, nor is he the reason we celebrate. I didn't think this would cause any problems. How could it? It's not like I told my son about Santa and then proceeded to tell him that Santa wasn't real. Now that, I could see that bring problematic. I could just see my all-knowing three-year old prancing around telling other kids they were wrong about Santa. That would cause an argument or two in the playgroups.... But, like I said, I didn't do that. I figured we'd just pass by the Holiday season without much mention of the big guy in the red suit.

What I didn't count on was other people talking to my son about Santa. Boy was I shocked the first time someone asked my son, "So, are you excited about Santa coming?"! My poor son turned to me with a look of utter confusion and just hid under my legs. I'm sure he must have thought that person mistook him for someone else--someone else who might have had family visiting....maybe a member of the family named "Santa." Hmmmm..... maybe something like that.

Then it happened again and again. Once, while at the checkout at CVS, a woman asked him, "Are you ready for Santa?" And my son smiled wide with a mischievous grin, "not quite......!" At that point, I think it had become a game to him. I finally asked him last night, "who's Santa?" To this, he had only one reply: "I don't know."

I'm not sure how widespread it is, but at least here in our little town, Santa sure seems to be a big part of the culture. I hadn't realized that before, but I certainly know it now. I had a short talk with my son about things people think of when they talk about Santa. To be honest, I'm not sure that he really cared. Seems like maybe he just loved all the attention and questions, regardless of whatever the people might have been talking about. I guess I shouldn't be surprised. He is a three year old after all. What's more important--understanding life, or making sure it revolves around you?

Monday, December 20, 2010

I made it my goal to find that "one" sugar cookie recipe that would be fit for all my needs. I'd tried many recipes in the past, and never could find just the right one. There were ones that I found easy to cut out but lacking in taste. Others were delicious but would never look beautiful. I did come across some recipes that both had a good taste and look, but they still didn't seem just perfect.

Alas! I have come upon the most perfectest of perfect sugar cookies recipe. If you like cookies that are thick and moist, this recipe is for you! These are not thin and crispy, so if those are the kind of cookies you like.... well, you should change your taste. These cookies are far superior to your thin and crispy biscuits.

I came across this sugar cookie recipe at allrecipes.com, but many of the reviewers thought the cookie was too bland. I liked the sound of the recipe, but wanted to fix the taste issue. There were a couple of ideas on the site, but I had made cookies weeks ago that used almond paste and loved the result. I still had half the can left, so I decided to add it to the recipe at allrecipes.com. The result? FANTASTIC!

The cookies were super easy to cut out (almond paste makes a helpful glue) and puffed up just right in the oven. They also tasted GREAT! They were delicious with or without icing. The perfect sugar cookie.

My three year old even helped with the decorating. I put icing on the cookies and he added decorations on top. It was so easy and he loved it. And when he wanted to be artistic with the icing, I put a little pile on the plate and gave him a toothpick. He used the toothpick like a paintbrush and went wild. So, go ahead! Make something delicious at your house, and get everyone involved! The creative process is fun, and so is the consumption process when you're done!

Wednesday, December 15, 2010

My three year old seems to be very confused about Christmas. Is it a day? A time? A thing? To be accurate, he doesn't actually think he's confused. I'm the one who thinks he's confused.

Last year, a neighbor bequeathed a large battery-operated train to us as they no longer had need of it. My son was overjoyed. I have dozens of pictures of him sitting in the middle of the tracks, on his belly, his grin from ear to ear, intently watching the train go around and around. We called it the Christmas Train, as it spent most of its time circling the Christmas Tree. We also called it the Christmas train because we were only going to get it out once a year--around Christmas.

So, at my son heard talk of Christmas coming, even in the beginning of November, he pleaded for us to get out the Christmas train. Finally, last Saturday, we purchased a tree and got out the train. He's played with it every day.

I mention this story because I think it's paved the way for my son's confusion about Christmas. If I were to use an example of another adjective (other than Christmas), I could say that I am wearing a blue shirt. My shirt is blue. So, if we were to replace the adjective of color to the adjective of Christmas, my shirt would be Christmas. To my son, the train is Christmas.

My mother recently sent a box full of present for the kids; I have placed them all under the tree. This morning, I said something to my son about the presents under the tree. "What presents?" he exclaimed. "Those aren't presents, those are Christmas!" And as for opening those presents, despite anything I say to the contrary, he believes he will get to open them "when Christmas is over." I am starting to see it the way he does.... that these trappings are Christmas. And, as for the presents, when we are done with the trappings as they are, then we may do something else with them (in this instance, open them).

To be honest, I'm not sure he's all that wrong. I mean, as far as the non-spiritual aspects of Christmas, it is definitely the trappings that I think of when I think of the season--trees, red and green decorations, presents, cookies and parties. Without them, would it be Christmas? (Again, I am referencing "Christmas" as a season--I'm not talking here about "Christmas" as a remembrance of our Savior's birth.)

Sunday, December 12, 2010

Growing up, I hated calling people for the first time. I even hated calling a friend when it was likely someone besides that friend would answer the phone. At home, I ran from the phone when it started to ring. I'd rather hear it ring ten times than answer it. This was back in the day before Caller ID. What a brilliant, brilliant invention, Caller ID. I am very thankful for it--on a daily basis.

I'm not sure the reason for my phone-phobia, but there is still some of it lingering today. In fact, it wasn't until I had to start calling hospitals and doctors all the time that I started to get better about the phone. My son's medical condition pushed me to start doing what I hated. But through the challenge, I grew. Isn't that how it happens sometimes?

Though, like I said, there is still some phone-phobia lingering. And this weekend, my phone-phobia nerves were pushed to their limits. I had offered to help a local non-profit by making calls for them. They were in desperate need of volunteers, and I really like helping out. I just had to call 50 families to give them some information on an upcoming event that they were scheduled to attend. No problem. While I figured it'd take a while to call all the families, I didn't expect it to be quite so overwhelming for me. Besides, I was calling them with very exciting news.

Most of these people didn't answer the phone when I called. A similarly large number of them didn't have voicemail. At first, I didn't think this would be a problem; I would just call them later. But what happened instead was a mystery to me. Suddenly, my phone was ringing...

Me: "Hello?"
Person A: "Hello."
Me: "......... ummmmm.... yes. Hello." <AHHHHH!! I'm freaking out!! Stop! Don't do this to me! I'm going to hang up!>
Person A: "You called me."
Me: <trying desperately to hold it together> "Riiiiiight.... I probably did call you. Could you please tell me your name?"
Person A: <shocked that I would have to ask for their name> <pause> <gives me his name>
Me: <glad to have a name, searching through papers while my mind spins because my stress level is through the ROOF> "Right, well, let me just find your information here so I can let you know what's going on....."

At that point, it generally took me the entire conversation to calm down after the trauma. And this happened over and over again. You might think I'd get used to it. But I didn't. How could I?!?! THE STRESS!! Wow. I mean, seriously, it took all that was in me not to hang up on them right after the first awkward "hello." Don't these people know they should at least say their NAME when they call someone!! EEK! Oh dear.... oh dear.... So anxiety producing....!

Obviously, I am not cut out for this type of work. Lesson learned. The hard way. I think we know one kind of volunteer work that I won't be volunteering to do in the near future.

Sunday, December 5, 2010

I love love love having people over. Our house isn't big or gorgeous, and I certainly don't keep it spotlessly clean. But, that doesn't keep me from inviting people over every chance I get.

Today I had my first Pampered Chef party, and I think it went pretty well. It definitely got me motivated to have another holiday party next year--but I'm thinking maybe I'll do a "caroling" party instead. Who knows; really, I have an entire year to decide. No rush!

Since my party went so well, I figured I'd let you guys in on a little secret to party success. Some of my guests were wondering how I could have such an amazing array of food and yet have two small children to take care of during the week (and a husband too, don't forget!). Here it is (shhhh, don't tell....):

PLAN, PLAN, PLAN!

I made sure to organize everything from what dishes I would prepare to what days I would prepare them to what time I should set them out on the table the day of the party. Tuesday I made caramel chex mix. Wednesday I got the pomegranate ready. Thursday I made egg nog pie. Friday I went grocery shopping for the rest of the ingredients I needed and also made cream cheese mints. Saturday I made brownies (for the show) and pumpkin mousse. I chopped all the veggies for the veggie tray. I also took a couple of minutes to make some holiday-themed lanterns. (Remember these lanterns? So versatile!) Sunday, I got some mulled cider ready in the crock pot hours before the party, and quick put together some "pigs in a blanket." Tada! That's it!

Wednesday, December 1, 2010

I'm very excited that it's December. Why? Because the chances of snow increase dramatically at this point in the year! At least.... in Indiana. If I lived in Ecuador, this wouldn't be the case. But as it is, I've never even set foot in Ecuador. So the point is moot.

There are those among you who shake your head at me despairingly. Those of you who wonder how I could even say such a thing. Those of you who, simply put, do not like the snow. But my question is this: do you truly hate snow? Or is it the effect of the snow? While it may seem difficult to separate the snow from the effect it has on our lives, I would ask you to consider doing just that.... Think for a moment about just snow....

1. It's white. There are very few things that we see either falling from the sky or growing up from the ground that are white. It is a rarity. White is often considered the color of purity.

2. It has a unique shape. Have you ever seen anything quite like a snowflake? Do you remember ever looking down at your mitten when you were a child, catching that fleeting glimpse of a snowflake's whole form before it began to melt away? It's breathtaking.

3. It's light; it blows with the wind. It almost seems unreal to watch, the way it swirls and sways. Almost like each snowflake was a little fairy fluttering her wings this way and that.

4. It's freezing. Just hear me out on this one. Think of water--rain--how it falls and then pools. It collects in puddles and leaves other areas almost untouched. Snow, because of it's cold nature, can cover the ground more neatly. When it snows, you can look around and see the whole ground covered in white. At least, the possibility is there..... sometimes the snow fairies would rather blow in the wind instead.

5. It glistens. I mean, seriously; I can't think of any other type of weather event that makes everything look quite so amazing.

See, I told you. Snow is fantastic. I know you're nodding your head right now.